Cradle assembly for supporting a door for uninstalling or installing to an aircraft, and arrangements and methods for the same

ABSTRACT

Cradle assemblies for supporting a door for uninstalling and/or installing the door to a fuselage of an aircraft, and arrangements and methods for the same are provided. In one example, a cradle assembly includes a first contoured board and a second contoured board that is spaced apart from the first contoured board. The first and second contoured boards are cooperatively configured to support outer sections of a first door. A third contoured board is configured to be selectively positioned adjacent to and extending higher than the first contoured board to support a first outer section of a second door that has a different outer shape than the first door. The third contoured board is contoured to substantially match the first outer section of the second door. The cradle assembly is configured to be positioned proximate to the fuselage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/988,742, which was filed on May 24, 2018, theentire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates generally to installing and/or removingdoors of aircrafts, and more particularly, relates to cradle assembliesfor supporting a door for uninstalling and/or installing the door to afuselage of an aircraft, and arrangements and methods for the same.

BACKGROUND

In the aircraft industry, many structural components require servicemaintenance during the life of an aircraft. Aircraft doors are nodifferent. For example, a passenger aircraft door is a relativelycomplicated assembly that includes various components such as an outerskin supported by an underlying structure, various hydraulics andelectrical components that are embedded within the door's structure, andstairs on an opposite side of the outer skin for passenger ingress andegress. Additionally, the aircraft door may include various seals,hinges, latches, releases, handles and other like components.

Typically, one or more components of an aircraft door will requireservicing at various times during the life of the aircraft. This mayrequire uninstalling or removing the door from the aircraft's fuselage,partially or fully disassembling portions of the door such as the stairsto gain access to various underlying components, for example,hydraulics, electrical components, and/or the like, performing thenecessary service maintenance, reassembling the door, and installing thedoor back to the aircraft's fuselage.

Often, such aircraft door service maintenance is performed at aircraftservice centers where the aircraft is either on the ground or onrelatively low standing jacks rather than at an aircraft productionfacility where the aircraft is often assembled relatively high above theground, for example, on relatively high standing jacks or the like.Unfortunately, production tooling used for supporting an aircraft doorduring installation of the door to the aircraft's fuselage either won'twork when the aircraft is on the ground or on relatively low standingjacks and/or is not practically available at most aircraft servicecenters. As such, many aircraft service centers struggle with apractical means for supporting a door for uninstalling and/orreinstalling the door to the fuselage, for example, as part ofperforming service maintenance on the door.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus for supporting adoor for uninstalling and/or installing the door to a fuselage of anaircraft, for example, to facilitate servicing the door, and a methodfor the same. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristicsof the various embodiments described herein will become apparent fromthe subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

SUMMARY

Various non-limiting embodiments of a cradle assembly for supporting adoor to a fuselage of an aircraft, and a cradle assembly and liftarrangement and a method for the same are provided herein.

In a first non-limiting embodiment, the cradle assembly includes, but isnot limited to, a first contoured board and a second contoured boardthat is spaced apart from the first contoured board. The first andsecond contoured boards are cooperatively configured to support outersections of a first door. The cradle assembly further includes, but isnot limited to, a third contoured board that is configured to beselectively positioned adjacent to and extending higher than the firstcontoured board to support a first outer section of a second door thathas a different outer shape than the first door. The third contouredboard is contoured to substantially match the first outer section of thesecond door. The cradle assembly is configured to be positionedproximate to the fuselage.

In another non-limiting embodiment, the cradle assembly and liftarrangement includes, but is not limited to, a lift that includes atable and that is configured to vertically move the table. The cradleassembly and lift arrangement further includes, but is not limited to, acradle assembly that is mounted on the table of the lift. The cradleassembly includes, but is not limited to, a first contoured board and asecond contoured board that is spaced apart from the first contouredboard. The first and second contoured boards are cooperativelyconfigured to support outer sections of a first door. The cradleassembly further includes, but it's not limited to, a third contouredboard that is configured to be selectively positioned adjacent to andextending higher than the first contoured board to support a first outersection of a second door that has a different outer shape than the firstdoor. The third contoured board is contoured to substantially match thefirst outer section of the second door. The cradle assembly isconfigured to be positioned proximate to the fuselage.

In another non-limiting embodiment, the method includes, but it's notlimited to, supporting a cradle assembly on a table of a lift. Thecradle assembly includes, but is not limited to, a first contoured boardand a second contoured board that is spaced apart from the firstcontoured board. The first and second contoured boards are cooperativelyconfigured to support outer sections of a first door. The cradleassembly further includes, but is not limited to, a third contouredboard that is configured to be selectively positioned adjacent to andextending higher than the first contoured board to support a first outersection of a second door that has a different outer shape than the firstdoor. The third contoured board is contoured to substantially match thefirst outer section of the second door. The method further includes, butis not limited to, moving the table of the lift to advance the cradleassembly to a first position that is proximate to the fuselage. Themethod further includes, but is not limited to, supporting the firstouter section of the second door with the third contoured boardpositioned adjacent to and extending higher than the first contouredboard. The method further includes, but is not limited to, one ofuninstalling and installing the door to the fuselage while the seconddoor is supported by the cradle assembly in the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunctionwith the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cradle assembly in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a cradle assembly and liftarrangement including a door that is supported in the cradle arrangementin accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a fuselage of an aircraft and acradle assembly and lift arrangement including a door that is supportedin the cradle arrangement in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a door being uninstalled or installed to afuselage of an aircraft in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a fuselage of an aircraft and acradle assembly and lift arrangement supporting a door that is beinguninstalled or installed to the fuselage in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 6 is in a large perspective view of a portion of a cradle assemblyand lift arrangement including a door supported in the cradle assemblyin accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cradle assembly and lift arrangementincluding a door supported in the cradle assembly in accordance with anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for supporting a door for uninstalling orinstalling the door to a fuselage of an aircraft in accordance with anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a cradle assembly and liftarrangement including a door that is supported in the cradle assembly inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a cradle assembly inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a cradle assembly inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a cradle assembly inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of a cradle assembly inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a cradle assembly including adoor supported in the cradle assembly in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a method for supporting a door for uninstalling orinstalling the door to a fuselage of an aircraft in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following Detailed Description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the various embodiments or the application anduses thereof. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by anytheory presented in the preceding background or the following detaileddescription.

Various embodiments contemplated herein relate to cradle assemblies forsupporting a door for uninstalling or installing the door to a fuselageof an aircraft, and arrangements and methods for the same. The exemplaryembodiments taught herein provide a cradle assembly for supporting adoor of an aircraft. The cradle assembly may form part of an arrangementwith a lift that includes a table configured to be moved vertically. Inan exemplary embodiment, the cradle assembly includes a base that ismounted on the table of the lift so that the cradle assembly can bemoved together with the table by the lift.

The cradle assembly includes a first contoured board and a secondcontoured board that are spaced apart from each other and that extendgenerally upward from the base. In an exemplary embodiment, the table ofthe lift is moved to advance the first and second contoured boards to afirst position that is proximate to the fuselage (e.g., adjacent to adoor opening formed through the wall of the fuselage). First and secondouter sections of the door are supported by the first and secondcontoured boards, respectively. In one example, the first and secondcontoured boards have first and second contoured edges, respectively,that are disposed distally from the base and that are contoured to forma cradle for receiving and supporting the door in a generally horizontalposition. While supported by the cradle assembly in the first position,the door is sufficiently stable to allow the door to be unattached from(e.g., uninstalled), or alternatively, attached (e.g., installed) to theaircraft's fuselage.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cradle assembly 10 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates aperspective view of a cradle assembly and lift arrangement 12 includinga door 14 of an aircraft in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Thecradle assembly and lift arrangement 12 includes the cradle assembly 10for supporting the door 14, and a lift 16 that supports the cradleassembly 10.

The lift 16 includes a table 18 and is configured to move the table 18vertically upward and/or downward. The lift 16 may also include wheels20 that are attached to a base frame 22 of the lift 16 to allow the lift16 to be moved along the floor, platform, or other relatively horizonalor sloped surface by applying manual force, for example, to a handle 21that is coupled to the base frame 22. As illustrated, the lift 16 is ascissor lift that includes linked, folding supports 24 in a crisscross“X” pattern (known as a pantograph or scissors mechanism) that extendsbetween and are coupled to the base frame 22 and the table 18 to movethe table 18 in a generally vertical direction(s) (e.g., upward and/ordownward). For example, the upward motion of the table 18 may beachieved by application of pressure to elongate the crisscross pattern,thereby propelling the table 18 upward. The application of pressure canbe hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical. Depending on the power systememployed on the lift 16, it may require no power to lower the table, butrather just the force of gravity and a simple release of hydraulic orpneumatic pressure. Other types of lifts known to those skilled in theart may be used as part of the cradle assembly and lift arrangement 12instead of a scissor lift.

The cradle assembly 10 is supported on the table 18 of the lift 16. Aswill be discussed in further detail below, the cradle assembly 10includes a base 26 that is mounted on the table 18 of the lift 16.

The cradle assembly 10 has contoured boards 28 and 30 that extendgenerally upward from the base 26 and that spaced apart from each other.The contoured boards 28 and 30 have contoured edges 32 and 34 that aredisposed distally from the base 26 and that are configured to supportouter sections 36 and 38 of the door 14. In the illustrated example, thecontoured edges 32 and 34 substantially match the curved or convex shapeof the outer sections 36 and 38 of the door 14 to define a“concave-shaped” cradle support structure for receiving and supportingthe outer sections 36 and 38 of the door 14 while the door 14 is in agenerally horizontal position. In an exemplary embodiment, the base 26and the contoured boards 28 and 30 are formed of a rigid structuralmaterial, such as metal, plastic, or the like, for example, a plasticmaterial such as high density polyethylene (HDPE).

Flexible guards 40 and 42 are correspondingly disposed along thecontoured edges 32 and 34. In an exemplary embodiment, the flexibleguards 40 and 42 directly interface with the outer sections 36 and 38 ofthe door 14 and advantageously are compliant to help prevent scratching,marring, or other damage to the outer surface of the door 14 whensupported in the cradle assembly 10. The flexible guards 40 and 42 maybe formed of a compliant, flexible, and/or elastomeric material, such asrubber, foam, or the like.

As illustrated, the base 26 has openings 44 and 46 formed therethroughthat are surrounded by an outer perimeter base section 48 of the base26. An intermediate base section 50 extends between opposite sides ofthe outer perimeter base section 48, separating the openings 44 and 46.The contoured boards 28 and 30 extend generally upward from the oppositesides of the outer perimeter base section 48 and outboard of theintermediate base section 50. In an exemplary embodiment, advantageouslythe openings 44 and 46 help reduce the overall weight of the cradleassembly 10 while the intermediate base section 50 helps structurallysupport the outer perimeter base section 48.

In an exemplary embodiment, the cradle assembly 10 includes supports 52and 54 (e.g., support beams) that extend between and are coupled to thecontoured boards 28 and 30. The supports 52 and 54 are formed of arelatively rigid, structural material such as metal, plastic, or thelike, for example HDPE. As illustrated, brackets 56 couple the supports52 and 54 to the contoured boards 28 and 30. Likewise, brackets 58couple the base 26 to the contoured boards 28 and 30. In an exemplaryembodiment, advantageously the supports 52 and 54 coupled to thecontoured boards 28 and 30, and the contoured boards 28 and 30 coupledto the base 26 with the brackets 56 and 58, respectively, form a rigidframe structure of the cradle assembly 10 for securely supporting thedoor 14 in a desired orientation or position.

In an exemplary embodiment, the cradle assembly 10 includes arms 60 and62 that are disposed outboard of and coupled to the contoured boards 28and 30, respectively. The arms 60 and 62 cooperate to limit lateralmovement of the door 14 when supported in the cradle assembly 10. Asillustrated, the arms 60 and 62 are configured as “Z-shaped” bracketshaving a first end section 64 that is coupled to the correspondingcontoured boards 28 and 30, and a second end section 66 that extendsupward beyond and laterally adjacent to the corresponding contourededges 32 and 34 to prevent the door 14 from shifting laterally (e.g.,sideways) in the cradle assembly 10. A layer of foam 68 is disposedalong the inboard side of the second end section 66 of each of the arms60 and 62. Advantageously, the layer of foam 68 helps preventscratching, marring or other damage to the surface and/or edges of thedoor 14.

Adjacent to the arms 60 and 62 are straps 70 and 72 that extend betweenthe contoured boards 28 and 30. The straps 70 and 72 each have an endcoupled to the contoured board 28 and an opposing end coupled to thecontoured board 30. Referring also to FIGS. 6-7, in an exemplaryembodiment, the straps 70 and 72 also include a snap fit attachment 74that allows the straps 70 and 72 to be wrapped around the door 14 andsecured to help limit movement of the door 14 when supported in thecradle assembly 10.

As discussed above, the base 26 is mounted to and attached to the table18 of the lift 16. In an exemplary embodiment, base through-holes 76 areformed through the opposing sides of the outer perimeter base section 48aligned with corresponding table through-holes 78 that are formedthrough the table 18. Releasable pin elements 80 (e.g., ball releasepins or the like) are disposed through the base through-holes 76 and thetable through-holes 78 to releasably attach the opposing sides of theouter perimeter base section 48 to the table 18.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5 and 8, a method 100 for supporting a door 14 forone of uninstalling and installing the door 14 to a fuselage 109 of anaircraft 110 is provide. The method 100 includes supporting (step 102)contoured boards 28 and 30 on a table 18 of a lift 16. The table 18 ofthe lift 16 is moved (STEP 104) to advance the contoured boards 28 and30 to a position (indicated by single headed arrow 112) that isproximate to the fuselage 109. Outer sections 36 and 38 of the door 14are supported (STEP 106) with the contoured boards 28 and 30. The door14 is uninstalling or installing (STEP 108) to the fuselage 109 whilethe outer sections 36 and 38 of the door 14 are supported by thecontoured boards 28 and 30 in the position 112. As illustrated, the door14 is positioned in a generally horizontal position while beingsupported by the contoured boards 28 and 30.

In one example, the door 14 is pivotally coupled or otherwise attachedto the fuselage 109 of the aircraft 110 and is in a partially openposition so as to extend generally horizontally in a direction away fromthe fuselage door opening 120. The table 18 of the lift 16 is movedvertically upward to advance the contoured boards 28 and 30 to theposition 112 to receive and support the outer sections 36 and 38 of thedoor 14 in the partially open position. While supported in the cradleassembly 10, the door 14 is uninstalled by unfastening the doorattachments 122 to the fuselage 109. The table 18 of the lift 16 is thenmoved vertically downward to remove the door 14 from the aircraft 110,for example, for servicing the door 14.

In another example, after servicing the door 14, the unattached door 14is supported in the cradle assembly 10 in a generally horizontallyposition. The table 18 of the lift 16 is moved vertically upward toadvance the contoured boards 28 and 30 and the door 14 to the position112 to support the door 14 in the generally horizontally positionadjacent to the fuselage door opening 120. While supported in the cradleassembly 10, the door 14 is installed by fastening the door attachments122 to pivotally couple or otherwise attach the door 14 to the fuselage109 of the aircraft 110.

Referring to FIGS. 9-10, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, acradle assembly and lift arrangement 212 for supporting the door 14 tothe fuselage 109 of the aircraft 110 is provided. The cradle assemblyand lift arrangement 212 is similarly configured as the cradle assemblyand lift arrangement 12 as discussed above in reference to FIGS. 1-7including the lift 16 but with the exception that the cradle assembly210 is configured to support not only the door 14 but other doors havinga different outer shape(s) than the door 14. As such, in an exemplaryembodiment, the cradle assembly 210 can be used for supporting variousdoors having different shapes, such as, for example, for differentmodels of aircraft.

In particular, the cradle assembly 210 is similarly configured as thecradle assembly 10 as discussed above in reference to FIGS. 1-7including the base 26, the contoured boards 28 and 30 with correspondingcontoured edges 32 and 34, flexible guards 40 and 42, openings 44 and46, supports 52 and 54, brackets 56 and 58, releasable pin elements 80that couple to the table 18 of the lift 16, and foam pads 68, but withthe exception that the arms are configured as adjustable arms 260 and262, and additional contoured boards 220, 222, and 224 with flexibleguards are provided that can be selectively position adjacent to thecontoured boards 28 and 30 for supporting a door(s) having a differentouter shape than the door 14.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11, in an exemplary embodiment, the contoured board220 when not in use is stored on or otherwise coupled to the base 26,for example space between the contoured boards 28 and 30. When thecradle assembly 210 is to be used to support a door having a somewhatsimilar but different shape than the door 14, for example having anouter section similar to the outer section 36 of the door 14 but with adifferent outer section than the outer section 38 of the door 14, thecontoured board 220 is removed from the base 26 and is selectivelypositioned (e.g., deployed) adjacent to and extending higher than thecontoured boards 30.

As illustrated, the contoured boards 28 and 30 each have a correspondinginboard side 226, 228 and a corresponding outboard side 230, 232 that isopposite the corresponding inboard side 226, 228. The inboard sides 226and 228 of the contoured boards 28 and 30 are spaced apart and face eachother. In an exemplary embodiment, the contoured board 220 isselectively coupled to the outboard side 232 of the contoured board 32and is position adjacent to and extending higher than the contouredboard 30. In one example, the contoured board 220 is attached to thecontoured board 30 via removable pins 264 that extend through thecontoured board 220 and engage internal bushings that are disposed inthe contoured board 30.

In an exemplary embodiment, the contoured board 220 has a contoured edge240 with a substantially concave shape that is configured for supportingan outer section 236 of a door 234. As illustrated, the outer section238 of the door 234 is supported by the contoured edge 32 of thecontoured board 28. In an exemplary embodiment, the contoured edge 240and the contoured edge 32 substantially match the shapes of thecorresponding outer sections 236 and 238 of the door 234.

Referring also to FIGS. 12-14, in an exemplary embodiment, the cradleassembly 210 is configured to support a door 242 that has a differentouter shape than either of the doors 14 or 234. As illustrated, thecontoured boards 222 and 224 are hingedly coupled to the contouredboards 20 and 30. As illustrated, the contoured boards 222 and 224 arecorrespondingly coupled to the inboard sides 226 and 228 via hinges 244,which are attached to the inboard sides 226 and 228 of the contouredboards 28 and 30 and, independently, to the corresponding contouredboards 222 and 224, to allow the contoured boards 222 and 224 to movebetween a retracted position 246 (shown in FIGS. 9-11) and an extendedposition 248 (shown in FIGS. 13-14). In the retracted position 246, thecontoured boards 222 and 224 extend substantially horizontally andinwardly between the contoured boards 28 and 30 and below the contourededges 32 and 34. From the retracted position 246, the contoured boards222 and 224 can be manually moved (e.g., rotated upward) to selectivelyposition the contoured boards 222 and 224 in the extended position 248where the contoured boards 222 and 224 are disposed adjacent to andextend higher than the contoured edges 32 and 34 of the contoured boards20 and 30, respectively. As illustrated, the contoured boards 222 and224 have corresponding contoured edges 250 and 252 with substantiallyconcave shapes that are configured for supporting outer sections 254 and256, respectively, of the door 242. In an exemplary embodiment, thecontoured edges 250 and 252 substantially match the shapes of the outersections 254 and 256, respectively, of the door 242. As such, when thedoor 242 is arranged on the contoured boards 222 and 224 in the extendedposition 248, the door 242 is vertically spaced apart from (e.g., above)the contoured boards 20 and 30 to ensure that the door 242 is fullynested on the contoured edges 250 and 252 of the contoured boards 222and 224.

As illustrated, the adjustable arms 260 and 262 are disposed outboard ofand coupled to the corresponding outboard sides 230 and 232 of thecontoured boards 28 and 30. In an exemplary embodiment, the adjustablearms 260 and 262 can be independently adjusted vertically in height sothat the layers of foam 68, which are disposed on inboard sides of thearms 260 and 262, are positioned laterally adjacent to whichever door14, 234 or 242 the cradle assembly 210 is supporting at the time. Forexample and as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, the adjustable arms 260and 262 include slots 266 that allow the layers of foam 68 to be movedmanually to position the layers of foam 68 at a lower level laterallyadjacent to the door 14 or 234, and to be move manually to position thelayers of foam 68 at a higher level laterally adjacent to the door 242as illustrated FIG. 14. Advantageously, in an exemplary embodiment, thishelps limit lateral or side to side movement of the door 14, 234 or 244when supported in the cradle assembly 210.

Referring to FIG. 15, a method 300 for supporting a door for one ofuninstalling and installing the door to a fuselage of an aircraft isprovide. The method 300 includes supporting (STEP 302) a cradle assemblyon a table of a lift. The cradle assembly includes a first contouredboard and a second contoured board that is spaced apart from the firstcontoured board. The first and second contoured boards are cooperativelyconfigured to support outer sections of a first door. A third contouredboard is configured to be selectively positioned adjacent to andextending higher than the first contoured board to support a first outersection of a second door that has a different outer shape than the firstdoor. The third contoured board is contoured to substantially match thefirst outer section of the second door.

The table of the lift is moved (STEP 304) to advance the cradle assemblyto a first position that is proximate to the fuselage. The first outersection of the second door is supported (STEP 306) with the thirdcontoured board positioned adjacent to and extending higher than thefirst contoured board. The door is one of uninstalled and installed(STEP 308) to the fuselage while the second door is supported by thecradle assembly in the first position.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in theforegoing detailed description of the disclosure, it should beappreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also beappreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments areonly examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability,or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoingdetailed description will provide those skilled in the art with aconvenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure. It being understood that various changes may be made in thefunction and arrangement of elements described in an exemplaryembodiment without departing from the scope of the disclosure as setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cradle assembly for supporting a door to afuselage of an aircraft, the cradle assembly comprising: a firstcontoured board; a second contoured board spaced apart from the firstcontoured board, wherein the first and second contoured boards arecooperatively configured to support outer sections of a first door; anda third contoured board configured to be selectively positioned adjacentto and extending higher than the first contoured board to support afirst outer section of a second door that has a different outer shapethan the first door, wherein the third contoured board is contoured tosubstantially match the first outer section of the second door, andwherein the cradle assembly is configured to be positioned proximate tothe fuselage.
 2. The cradle assembly of claim 1, wherein the thirdcontoured board has a first contoured edge that substantially matches ashape of the first outer section of the second door, and wherein thesecond contoured board has a second contoured edge that substantiallymatches a shape of corresponding outer sections of the first and seconddoors that are substantially similar to each other.
 3. The cradleassembly of claim 2, wherein the first and second contoured edges eachhave a substantially concave shape for supporting the second door. 4.The cradle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base, wherein thefirst and second contoured boards extend generally upward from the base,wherein the first contoured board has a first inboard side and a firstoutboard side that is opposite the first inboard side, and wherein thesecond contoured board has a second inboard side that faces the firstinboard side and a second outboard side that is opposite the secondinboard side.
 5. The cradle assembly of claim 4, wherein the thirdcontoured board is configured to be selectively coupled to the firstoutboard side of the first contoured board to position the thirdcontoured board adjacent to and extending higher than the firstcontoured board.
 6. The cradle assembly of claim 5, wherein the thirdcontoured board is configured to be selectively coupled to the base whenthe third contoured board is not coupled to the first contoured board.7. The cradle assembly of claim 4, further comprising a fourth contouredboard configured to be selectively positioned adjacent to and extendinghigher than the second contoured board to support a second outer surfaceof the second door, wherein the fourth contoured board is contoured tosubstantially match the second outer section of the second door.
 8. Thecradle assembly of claim 7, wherein the third contoured board and thefourth contoured board are hingedly coupled to the first contoured boardand the second contoured board, respectively.
 9. The cradle assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the third contoured board is hingedly coupled to thefirst inboard side of the first contoured board and the fourth contouredboard is hingedly coupled to the second inboard side of the secondcontoured board.
 10. The cradle assembly of claim 4, further comprising:at least one first arm disposed outboard of and coupled to the firstoutboard side of the first contoured board; and at least one second armdisposed outboard of and coupled to the second outboard side of thesecond contoured board, wherein the at least one first arm and the atleast one second arm cooperate to limit lateral movement of the firstdoor and the second door.
 11. The cradle assembly of claim 10, furthercomprising: at least one first layer of foam disposed along a thirdinboard side of the at least one first arm; and at least one secondlayer of foam disposed along a fourth inboard side of the at least onesecond arm.
 12. The cradle assembly of claim 10, wherein the at leastone first arm and the at least one second arm are independentlyadjustable in height relative the first and second contoured boards. 13.A cradle assembly and lift arrangement for supporting a door to afuselage of an aircraft, the cradle assembly and lift arrangementcomprising: a lift comprising a table and configured to vertically movethe table; and a cradle assembly mounted on the table of the lift, thecradle assembly comprising: a first contoured board; a second contouredboard spaced apart from the first contoured board, wherein the first andsecond contoured boards are cooperatively configured to support outersections of a first door; and a third contoured board configured to beselectively positioned adjacent to and extending higher than the firstcontoured board to support a first outer section of a second door thathas a different outer shape than the first door, wherein the thirdcontoured board is contoured to substantially match the first outersection of the second door, and wherein the cradle assembly isconfigured to be positioned proximate to the fuselage.
 14. The cradleassembly and lift arrangement of claim 13, wherein the cradle assemblyfurther comprises a base that is mounted to the table of the lift,wherein the first and second contoured boards extend generally upwardfrom the base, wherein the first contoured board has a first inboardside and a first outboard side that is opposite the first inboard side,and wherein the second contoured board has a second inboard side thatfaces the first inboard side and a second outboard side that is oppositethe second inboard side.
 15. The cradle assembly and lift arrangement ofclaim 14, wherein the third contoured board is configured to beselectively coupled to the first outboard side of the first contouredboard to position the third contoured board adjacent to and extendinghigher than the first contoured board.
 16. The cradle assembly and liftarrangement of claim 15, wherein the third contoured board is configuredto be selectively coupled to the base when the third contoured board isnot coupled to the first contoured board.
 17. The cradle assembly andlift arrangement of claim 14, wherein the cradle assembly furthercomprises a fourth contoured board configured to be selectivelypositioned adjacent to and extending higher than the second contouredboard to support a second outer surface of the second door, wherein thefourth contoured board is contoured to substantially match the secondouter section of the second door.
 18. The cradle assembly and liftarrangement of claim 17, wherein the third contoured board and thefourth contoured board are hingedly coupled to the first contoured boardand the second contoured board, respectively.
 19. The cradle assemblyand lift arrangement of claim 18, wherein the third contoured board ishingedly coupled to the first inboard side of the first contoured boardand the fourth contoured board is hingedly coupled to the second inboardside of the second contoured board.
 20. A method for supporting a doorto a fuselage of an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:supporting a cradle assembly on a table of a lift, wherein the cradleassembly comprises: a first contoured board; a second contoured boardspaced apart from the first contoured board, wherein the first andsecond contoured boards are cooperatively configured to support outersections of a first door; and a third contoured board configured to beselectively positioned adjacent to and extending higher than the firstcontoured board to support a first outer section of a second door thathas a different outer shape than the first door, wherein the thirdcontoured board is contoured to substantially match the first outersection of the second door; moving the table of the lift to advance thecradle assembly to a first position that is proximate to the fuselage;supporting the first outer section of the second door with the thirdcontoured board positioned adjacent to and extending higher than thefirst contoured board; and one of uninstalling and installing the doorto the fuselage while the second door is supported by the cradleassembly in the first position.